v. Obs. Forms: Inf. 1 betellan, 2–4 bitelle(n, 4 bitele, 5 betelle, (6 betele). Pa. t. 3 bitald(e, -told(e. Pa. pple. 3 bitald, 5 betolde. [OE. bętellan, f. BE- 1 + tęllan to TELL.]
1. trans. To speak for, answer for, justify.
1048. O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.). Þæt he [Godwin] moste hine betellan.
a. 1250. Owl & Night., 263. Lust hu ich con me bitelle Mid riȝte sothe.
2. To speak of, declare, narrate.
c. 1205. Lay., 15868. Ȝif ich … mid soðe hit bitelle · Þat heore talen sinde lese.
c. 1425. Wyntoun, Cron., II. viii. 128. As yhe haf herd before be-talde.
3. To lay claim to; to win; to rescue.
c. 1205. Lay., 7894. Bi-ðencheð eow ohte cnihtes to bi-tellen eowere rihtes. Ibid., 18099. Þu hauest Brutlond al bitald To þire hond.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 920. Loth was fifti winter hold Quan Abram him bitold.
4. To calumniate, deride, deceive. [Perh. there is here properly a vb. bitelen, f. OE. tǽlan to speak ill of, calumniate: esp. in the last quot.]
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 226. He þeonne mid tet, birleð [v.r. bitelleþ] him ilome.
a. 1240. Lofsong, in Lamb. Hom., 205. Þet heo hire ne muwen bitellen.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 6890. He … wrat þe nam, and sett to sele, þat man suld oþer nan bitele.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., 217. He shalle with alle his mawmentry No longere us be telle.
1567. Harman, Caveat, 67. She sayth that they be her children, that beteled be babes borne of such abhominable bellye.
